Art Treasures of Kinloch Castle

“GOLDEN MYTH”
Ascot Gold Cup, Ascot Gold Vase and Eclipse Stakes Winner in 1922.

Written from first-hand research and illustrated by George W. Randall,

co-founder in July 1996 and former Vice Chairman

Kinloch Castle Friends' Association.

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His sire and dam were 15^th Generation Tail Male descendants of Foundation Stallion, Darley Arabian (b. 1700) via undefeated Eclipse b. 1 April 1764, (named after the Solar Eclipse that occurred the same month), bred by Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, third and youngest son of King George II.

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AUTHOR BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION:

Sir George Bullough's recorded racing career spanned thirty years during which he owned over one hundred and fifty thoroughbreds - all traced and named.

A long time member of the National Hunt Committee and Jockey Club, (holding several official positions), he was also a member of the Racecourse Betting Control Board and the Council of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, where, as owner of Longholes Stud Farm, Newmarket, he took a particular interest in investigations into sterility.

From 1903 he was Master of the Ledbury Hounds, resigning in 1921 in favour of his half-brother John, popularly known as Ian. The same year he sold all his jumping horses and moved into flat racing, his thoroughbreds being trained at Park Lodge, Newmarket, by up and coming former jockey now trainer, Jack Layton Jarvis.

Sir George's colours were cerise with purple sleeve shirt and purple hat.

Male Line Sires:

Tredennis (b.1898 d. 1926) A leading sire in Great Britain and later Argentina.

His progeny won over 480 races.

Kendal (b 1883) 8 starts eight wins as 2 year old. including Newmarket July Stakes over six furlongs. Due to injury received during training in late 1885 he was retired and sold to stud in Ireland. From 1893 to 1901 he stood at stud in England before being sent to Haras Ojo de Agua Stud, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Bend Or (b 1877) Owned by the 1^st Duke of Westminster. 14 starts 10 wins,

including 1880 Epsom Derby and Champion Stakes.

Doncaster (b 1870) Winner Epsom Derby and Ascot Gold Cup. From 1884

stood at Kisber Imperial-Royal Stud, Hungary.

Female Line Sires:

Persimmon (b 1893) owned by HRH Edward, Prince of Wales

9 starts 7 wins, including Epsom Derby, Doncaster St. Leger, Ascot Gold Cup

and Sandown Eclipse Stakes. He was the sire of Golden Lily born 1907.

St. Simon (b 1881) owned by Duke of Portland, 9 starts 9 wins including Ascot Gold Cup, Champion Sire nine time and Champion Brood Mare Sire six times.

Galopin (b 1872) 11 starts ten wins including Epsom and Newmarket Derby,

leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland 1888, 1889 and 1898. He was top broodmare sire four times, his progeny included U.K. Triple Crown Champion, Flying Fox.

Sir George Bullough, Baronet,
purchased Golden Myth as a yearling
for 1,400 guineas in 1919.

Bred in Ireland and foaled in 1918, Golden Myth was a bay colt by Tredennis out of Golden Lily by Edward Prince of Wales' Persimmon, purchased as a yearling on Sir George's behalf by his newly appointed trainer, Jack Jarvis*, for 1,400 guineas*.

* 1,400 guineas = ₤2,070, equivalent to about ₤90,000 in 2024. UK Inflation Calculator.

He first raced as a three year old winning his first two races, the Bentinck Maiden Plate over 1½ miles by half-a-length ridden by Charlie Elliott at Nottingham; and the Newmarket Shelford Plate over 1¾ miles by a short head ridden by Nathan Spear. In June Golden Myth came a close third to Copyright and Tishy (short head and a neck) in the 1921 Ascot Gold Vase over 2 miles ridden by Henri Jelliss at 9/4. The same month at Ascot, ridden again by Jelliss, he came third by three lengths in the Hardwicke Stakes over 1½ miles to Lord Carnarvon's Franklin and J. de Rothschild's Milenko. On the ninth of September at Doncaster in the Doncaster Stakes, with Henri Jelliss up, Golden Myth won by four lengths at 6/4 in a field of three.

On 30 September in the Newmarket St. Leger over the last 1¾ miles of the Cesarewitch Course, ridden again by Henri Jelliss at 13/8 on, Golden Myth finished third by 2½ lengths to Sol Joel's Napolyon (one length) and His Majesty's Perfect Knight (1½ lengths).

These performances showed that whatever else he might or might not be, Sir George's stallion was a stayer.

Thus the stage was set for the 1922 Flat Racing Season.

Golden Myth was immediately retired to stud at a fee of 200 guineas*.

(* 200 guineas = £210, equivalent to over £13,000 in 2022. Ref: Office for National Statistics CPI.

Sir George's 1922 winnings placed him fourth in the Annual League of Winning Owners, with seven of his horses winning thirteen races.

* In his autobiography, "They're Off", Jack Jarvis writes the success of Golden Myth
established his reputation as a trainer of thoroughbreds.
Knighted by Her Majesty the Queen in 1967 for his services to horse racing,

Sir Jack passed away the following year at the age of eighty.

Sir Jack Jarvis was Top Trainer in 1939, 1951 and 1953.

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Above: Advert for Stallions Standing in 1923 from Bloodstock Breeders' Review.

Both Golden Myth's direct male and female pedigree

trace back to foundation stallion the Darley Arabian.

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As a sire of future winners Golden Myth was something of a disappointment.

In his autobiography, "They're Off", Sir Jack Jarvis writes:

"(Golden Myth) proved to be one of the most deplorable failures at stud

I have ever known and hardly sired a winner of any description, the painful fact

(was) that most of them just could not go ..."

His stud fees, initially 200 guineas, although reduced to 99 sovereigns in 1929,

added up nicely, totaling over £1,000,000 in present day terms.

There were only two winners from his first crop of foals, Betting Tax and Toreador, which raced in 1926, winning £148 and £701 respectively.

A further four winners were added in 1927 and seven in 1928.

Golden Myth's most notable winner was Mr. H. S. Gray's Sea Serpent out of Seabloom by Spearmint, (winner of the 1906 English Derby Stakes), born 1928.

He ran twice in 1931 winning the Baldoyle Derby and Irish Derby

at the Curragh June Meeting, a total of £4,507.

Sea Serpent ran three times the following year, finishing second in the Burwell Stakes at Newmarket before being retired to Grog Magog Hills near Cambridge, England from 1933 to 1936. He later stood at Loughbrown Stud, the Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland, and Ross House Stud, County Cavan, Ireland.

Following his 1922 Season Golden Myth went to The Earl of Rosebery's Mentmore Stud.

Weatherby & Sons' Racing Calendar 1922 * George W. Randall Research and Photographic Archive

Sir George and Lady Bullough at the races.

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Golden Myth did not run as a 2 Year-old.

In 1921 as a 3 Year-old Golden Myth ran six races

winning three and being place third in three:

ASCOT GOLD VASE

HARDWICKE STAKES

DONCASTER STAKES

NEWMARKET ST. LEGER

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1922 - Golden Myth 4 Years Old - QUEEN'S PRIZE

KING COLE STAKES

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The original ASCOT GOLD VASE was donated by Queen Victoria in 1838 following her accession on 20 June the previous year.

Originally for three year-olds it allowed older horses in 1840.

Renamed the King's Vase in 1903 it was named the Queen's Vase in 1960.

Inaugurated in 1807, the historic ASCOT GOLD CUP is amongst the most-coveted trophies in flat racing. Along with the Royal Hunt Cup, the Gold Vase and Gold Cup they are perpetual trophies, being kept permanently by the winning owners.

The Gold Cup is Ascot's oldest surviving race.

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Description of the Sandown Park Course in 1922.

Eclipse Stakes

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REVIEWED 27 JANUARY 2026.

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GRINLING GIBBONS’

LIMEWOOD CARVED SCREEN

Researched, written and illustrated by George W. Randall

co-founder in July 1996 and former

Vice Chairman of Kinloch Castle Friends' Association.

Understood to be part of the original commissioned by Sir Christopher Wren

to grace the approach to the grand staircase at Wandsworth Manor House, London,

home of Princess Anne, later Queen Anne of England, Scotland and Ireland.

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BACKGROUND :

PLEASE READ NOTES AT END OF THIS BLOG - THANK YOU!

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Grinling Gibbons, one of the most famous woodcarvers of all time, was born in Rotterdam to English parents in 1648 and moved to Great Britain in his early twenties. Blessed and recognised with an extraordinary talent to mold and shape wood, mostly limewood, he attracted a series of influential patrons including Sir Christopher Wren, King George II and King William III, who was so impressed with Gibbons' work he gave him the title "Master Carver". Gibbons died in 1720.

The magnificent six arch screen in Lady Bullough's bedroom at Kinloch Castle is understood to be part of the original commissioned by Wren to grace the approach to the grand staircase at Wandsworth Manor House, a gift from King Charles II to his niece, Princess Anne of York (from 1702-1707 Queen Anne and last monarch of the House of Stuart), upon her marriage in July 1683 to Prince George of Denmark.
Anne, born 1665, was daughter of James, Duke of York, later King of England and Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII. He was the younger brother of King Charles II.

Following demolition of Wandsworth House in the late 1880's the screen was installed at the "residential and sporting estate of Bishopswood, (built in 1844), a picturesque mansion between Ross and Monmouth" owned by millionaire, philanthropist and racehorse owner, Colonel Harry Blundell McCalmont. Sir George Bullough owned Bishopswood from 1906 until 1910 during which time he removed six of the original arches, three each to line opposing walls in what became seventy year old Lady Bullough's bedroom following her husband's death in July 1939, it being the custom of Victorian ladies to remove from the marital bedchamber at that time. The bedroom, part of the 1906 west wing addition to Kinloch Castle, was more recently used as the Visitor's Sitting Room.
The Grinling Gibbons screen adorns opposing walls and has been painted white.

From Country Life.

THE PAINTINGS IN THE BEDROOM:

BELOW: Attributed to the Dutch School, measuring 114 x 197 cms., (45 x 79 inches), the oil on wood panel against the rear wall depicts three putti (male cherubs) on a three tier stone plinth against a vase of flowers. The one on the right is blowing soap bubbles through a straw from a bowl in his left hand; the putti left extends his right hand to catch one.
The painting has been moulded into the interior wall finish to hide a single pane window which overlooks the central courtyard.
Professionally appraised in 1996 the work was described as "structurally sound throughout" but "the surface grubby with stains in the upper left hand corner." Auctioneers Phillips valued the painting in 1996 at £2,400.
The painting is still located in its original setting but the doorway (immediately right) meant it was prone to scuffs from visitors and guests, the room being latterly used as the visitor's sitting room.

BELOW: Visible left through the bed canopy and titled Vase and Flowers

is a second Dutch School oil on wood panel, 72 x 83 cms., (30 x 36 inches).

The painted panel is glued to a secondary larger panel constructed of two or more sections and when professionally appraised in 1996, was found to be suffering "recent and extensive woodworm damage" with the recommendation that the woodworm damage be assessed, treated, surface dirt removed and the work re-varnished. Art Appraisers Phillips valued the painting in 1996 at £1,500.
Lady Bullough recalled in an interview that both paintings originated at Wandsworth Manor House and were acquired prior to its demolition.

The painting was removed many years ago to make a doorway through to the north wing to comply with fire regulations. Since then it has languished in numerous rooms, unprotected and directly on the floor.

NOTE: The remaining Gibbons arches are still to be found in the grand entrance hall at Bishopswood House, Ross-on-Wye, which today is used as a country guest house.